SOCIALITY OF BRUTES. 



the congregation of gregarious birds in the winter is 

 a remarkable instance. 



Many horses, though quiet with company, will not 

 stay one minute in a field by themselves : the strongest 

 fences cannot restrain them. My neighbour's horse 

 will not only not stay by himself abroad, but he will 

 not bear to be left alone in a strange stable, without 

 discovering the utmost impatience, and endeavouring 

 to break the rack and manger with his fore feet. 

 He has been known to leap out at a stable-window, 

 through which dung was thrown, after company ; 

 and yet, in other respects, is remarkably quiet. Oxen 

 and cows will not fatten by themselves ; but will 

 neglect the finest pasture that is not recommended 

 by society. It would be needless to instance in 

 sheep, which constantly flock together. 



But this propensity seems not to be confined to 

 animals of the same species ; for we know a doe, 

 still alive, that was brought up from a little fawn 

 with a dairy of cows ; with them it goes a-field, and 

 with them it returns to the yard. The dogs of the 

 house take no notice of this deer, being used to her ; 

 but, if strange dogs come by, a chase ensues ; while 

 the master smiles to see his favourite securely leading 

 her pursuers over hedge, or gate, or stile, till she 

 returns to the cows, who, with fierce lowings, and 

 menacing horns, drive the assailants quite out of the 

 pasture. 



Even great disparity of kind and size does not 

 always prevent social advances and mutual fellow- 

 ship. For a very intelligent and observant person 

 has assured me, that in the former part of his life, 

 keeping but one horse, he happened also on a time 

 to have but one solitary hen. These two incongruous 

 animals spent much of their time together, in a 

 lonely orchard, where they saw no creature but each 

 other. By degrees, an apparent regard began to 



